Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Weight Loss and Health

By now, you have inevitably heard about the Zumba fitness craze. What makes this workout routine so special, and so much fun for so many people? Why are people still flocking to these classes when they need to get some exercise? We cover everything about Zumba fitness below so you can learn more about it, and to help you decide if it’s something that you would like to try to switch up your workout routine and make it more interesting. Want to Keep Reading? Click Here…

You have already heard about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, and you already know how much better you feel when you do end up getting the rest that you need during the night. But, did you know that irregular sleep schedules might cause even more serious problems than just making you feel tired during the day? It turns out that irregular sleep might lead to a greater risk of metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and diabetes. Yikes!

First Off, What We Mean by “Irregular Sleep”

What exactly do we mean when we say, “irregular sleep”? Well, it basically refers to getting a different number of hours of sleep from one night to the next. For example, if you go to bed earlier one night, you might end up getting more sleep, but you might end up going to sleep much later the next night, thereby getting much less sleep.

Just how much of an impact does an inconsistent sleep schedule have on your health? Well, according to Today, every one-hour increase in bedtime variability can boost the odds of getting metabolic syndrome by 23%. Also, every one-hour increase in variability in the length of time that you sleep can increase your odds of getting metabolic syndrome by 27%.

Get on a Regular Sleep Schedule for Your Overall Health

The number of hours of sleep that you get is important, but beyond that, you have to be sure that you are following a regular sleep schedule. That way, you can reduce the odds of developing metabolic syndrome, which is associated with a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Why would your sleep schedule impact your health in such a profound way? Well, it’s all about your biological clock. Every metabolic process in your body follows a rhythm, and when you are getting irregular amounts of sleep, those rhythms are disrupted. Not to mention, when you follow an inconsistent sleep schedule, you are also more likely to be unable to follow a regular meal schedule during the day, thereby shifting the times of day when you eat, further disrupting your internal clock.

Take Steps to Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule

Now that you know about the potential consequences of following an inconsistent sleep schedule, you can take steps to ensure you get on a more consistent sleeping routine for your overall health.

Coming into the New Year, one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that starts at the top of everyone’s list at the beginning of the year and for 80% of the population, end up at the bottom over the next twelve weeks, is losing weight. However, with the onset of the summer months, people usually re-gain that momentum to get in swimsuit shape. Once the weather begins to turn cold again and the holidays come around people generally begin to pack the pounds back on just in time to put weight loss back on the New Year’s resolution list for the upcoming year. This is the most common “diet roller coaster” most people that struggle with weight loss get on over and over again.Want to Keep Reading? Click Here…

Billions of dollars are being spent on diet drugs and advertising, as researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and consumers are looking for a way to combat the obesity rate on a global level.

Recent studies have shown that Americans spend nearly 40 billion dollars on diet drugs and supplements over the course of a year. As more people begin to use diet pills, whether they are prescriptions or just OTC supplements, greater numbers of side effects are being reported that range from dry mouth, to more severe problems even resulting in death.Want to Keep Reading? Click Here…

There are a lot of products on the market that claim to help you lose weight without having to put in much effort, if any effort at all. One example is slimming belts, which are also referred to as slimmer belts. But, even though these products promise amazing results, it is best to just save your money, and your comfort, by steering clear of them. Continue reading to learn why slimming belts aren’t worth trying.

What Are Slimming Belts?

Slimming belts are basically neoprene wraps that you put around your waist in an effort to get rid of the fat around your belly and midsection. The belt wraps around you and compresses the body, with the idea that the fat cells themselves become compressed in the process. Unfortunately, according to Livestrong, the reality is that the fat cells do go back to their normal size when you take the slimming belt off.

Slimming Belts Can Cause Side Effects

In addition to being ineffective, slimming belts can also lead to unpleasant side effects. First off, they do make you sweat more, which isn’t a good thing because it can make you dehydrated, as well as lead to electrolyte imbalances. On top of that, it raises your body temperature, so you might end up experiencing exhaustion and heat stroke because your body isn’t able to properly cool itself off.

Beyond that, when you wear a slimming belt that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe properly, you could end up with skin irritation, itchiness, acne, rashes, burns, and blisters. Yikes!

Also, even though you might find that you stand up straighter and your posture improves while you are wearing a slimming belt, it can actually be doing more harm than good because you don’t really need to use your ab muscles and your postural muscles while you are wearing these belts. Over time, you just end up losing strength, and your posture will suffer more in the long run.

There Are Better Ways to Lose Weight

Don’t fall for the gimmick that is the slimming belt. The best way to slim down and get in shape is with good ol’ exercise in combination with a healthy diet that is low in calories and filled with nutritious, natural foods.

Do you want to make the most of each and every workout? Then consider taking some of the best fitness supplements before you start your exercise routine. That way, your body will have the nutrition that it needs to really burn calories and build strength.

What are three of the best fitness supplements that you should try in order to improve your next workout? We have a list below to help you get started.

1. Beta-Alanine

First up is beta-alanine, which is an amino acid that can help your muscles maintain energy throughout your workout. If you often find that muscle fatigue keeps you from completing a challenging workout, taking some beta-alanine before you exercise might help boost your performance. According to Healthline, this supplement can also work particularly well if you are performing intense exercises that last anywhere from just one minute to four minutes.

2. BCAAs

BCAA stands for branched-chain amino acid. You can get BCAAs from the foods that you eat, but you can also take BCAA supplements to boost your intake and improve your athletic performance during your workouts. When taken before you exercise, this supplement can help improve your endurance, and it can be really helpful if you tend to struggle with fatigue. Beyond that, however, BCAAs can even help with reducing the amount of muscle soreness that you feel after a tough workout.

3. Caffeine

In addition to helping you get going in the morning, caffeine is also considered one of the best fitness supplements to take before you hit the gym. That’s because it can help not only boost your mental energy, but your physical energy as well, and that means that it can improve your athletic performance. Whether you are getting ready to knock out a strength training routine or a cardio workout, caffeine can help you have the power that you need to get through it with greater ease.

With the right pre-workout supplements, you can start to see an improvement in the way that your body performs during your exercise routine, and you might even notice that your recovery is faster as well. When shopping for the best fitness supplements, be sure to purchase from reputable manufacturers that use high-quality ingredients. Also, talk to your doctor first if you have any concerns about whether or not it’s safe for you to take a supplement, especially if you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition or you are taking prescription medications.

Getting a workout in at least a few times a week is an important part of maintaining your weight and your overall health. That said, what would be better for weight loss, in particular: a morning or evening workout? Check out the information below to get the answer to this common question.

Answer: Morning Workouts Can Be More Effective

If you aren’t a morning person, you might be disappointed to learn that a study has found that individuals who are capable of maintaining their weight tend to exercise in the morning.

The other part of this equation, though, is that they exercise a minimum of five days a week, so it’s not just about timing, it’s about quantity. That’s according to Bicycling, which advises activity being a priority if you want to shed pounds and keep them off.

It is worth noting, however, that this study only consisted of 30 people, so it was a small one. Additional studies will need to be conducted into why, exactly, morning exercises tend to yield better results than evening workouts.

Hate Working Out in the Morning? That’s Okay!

Even though, when it comes to whether a morning or evening workout is better for weight loss, experts have found some evidence to support the idea that morning workouts are more effective, don’t fret. Again, the key is to stay active, no matter what you do, and no matter what time of day you do it.

So, if you prefer working out in the evening because you have more time to get it done, because you have more energy later in the day, or because you have fewer distractions, then go for it! You’ll still get great results, as long as you are eating right and maintaining a consistent exercise routine that allows your body to be physically active on most days of the week. Set a routine that works for you, and then stick with it. You’ll shed pounds and keep them off, while building strength and endurance.

However, if you find that you can’t really get in a good workout in the evenings because of changes in your daily schedule, fatigue, or distractions from family and work, consider setting up a routine that includes getting up a bit earlier to get a good workout in. You might even find that, when comparing how you feel after a morning or evening workout, you feel better and more energized throughout the rest of your day when you exercise in the morning.

It’s Really Up to You

Regardless of whether you prefer a morning or evening workout, the goal is to stay active. Always keep that in mind. The foundation to any great weight loss program is diet and exercise, but it’s up to you to figure out what routine works best for your daily life.

Have you been following the ketogenic diet in an effort to lose weight? But, are you thinking about letting yourself indulge a little during the holiday season when all of your favorite foods are around? Well, in that case, you need to consider what happens if you stop keto dieting, even for just a few weeks over the holidays. Continue reading to learn more so you can make the right decision for both your health and your weight.

You Need to Stop Keto Dieting the Right Way

After following the keto diet for a while, you can’t just stop following it and go back to eating the way that you used to. Instead, you have to ease your body off the keto diet and onto a new eating plan.

According to Shape, if you want to stop keto dieting, you need to have a plan in place for how you will incorporate carbs, in particular, back into your diet. Going slow and starting off by adding back unprocessed carbohydrates is recommended, so consider this as you stop keto dieting for the upcoming holiday season.

You’ll Likely Experience Various Symptoms

After you stop following the keto diet, you’ll likely experience a few side effects. For example, you might end up gaining weight, but it might have a lot to do with water weight gain after stopping this diet. Also, how much weight you gain back will depend on various factors, such as your exercise routine, the way that your body metabolizes carbohydrates, and what you’re eating on a daily basis now that you’re off keto.

Another side effect of coming off of the keto diet might be blood sugar fluctuations that produce fatigue, changes in mood, and feelings of jitteriness. Plus, you might end up feeling hungrier overall. Also, once you reintroduce those carbs that you’ve been avoiding, you might also experience some bloating. Give your body a few days, or even a couple of weeks, to adjust.

The good news, however, is that people who stop keto dieting often find that their energy level actually increases, thanks to the carbohydrates that they’re eating again. You may find that your concentration and focus improve, too, and you might have more endurance during your workouts.

It’s clear that there are some effects to consider if you stop keto dieting. Hopefully, the information above will help you make the best choice about how you’ll eat over the holidays so you don’t undo your fitness progress.

Shedding pounds is tough, but with the right weight loss support system in place to be there for you whenever you need it, the process of slimming down might become a lot easier. Here are a few of the ways that you can receive some much-needed weight loss support to help ensure your success.

Start with Your Family and Friends

You spend most of your time eating with your family and friends, right? Then why not tell them about your weight loss goals, and ask them if they could help you? Let them know how they can help, and how much you would appreciate their support as you work on eating better and working out more regularly. You might, for example, ask your spouse to help you cook healthier meals and choose healthier foods at the grocery store. Or, you might ask your friend to join the gym with you so that you can reap the benefits of a motivating workout buddy.

Join a Weight Loss Group

According to Mayo Clinic, you can also receive some weight loss support by joining a weight loss group. You might even consider forming one of these groups yourself! Whether you find a group of like-minded people on a similar journey online, through an app, or in your local community is sure to be helpful, as you’ll be able to ask questions, get advice, and even vent about your struggles. However, if you can find a weight loss support group that is led by a pro like a certified health coach or a dietitian, you might like it even better.

Be prepared to find it a little challenging to get everyone on board when you are trying to shed the excess weight that you’ve accumulated over time. Some family and friends might be difficult to work with when it comes to eating healthy and avoiding sugar-laden desserts, so it’s important to find support elsewhere, even if it’s virtual support from a helpful online community.

If you want to keep up with your vacation workout plans, then make sure your trips aren’t just about lying on the beach. Sure, soaking up the sun can be a fantastic part of your time away from home, but you can still have fun while moving around.

When you’re on a Mexican holiday, spoil yourself by staying in a luxury Mexico beach villa, but don’t forget your vacation workout times while you’re there! You can swim in the pool or in the ocean. You can run on the beach. But you can also learn about history and get a great hike while you do it.

A San Blas Historical Vacation Workout

It’s worth your while to drive out to San Blas both for the regions fascinating naval history and for a great vacation workout at the same time. Head outside of town to the ruins so you can check out an important part of this region’s roots.

This town was founded by Spanish explorers. It was used as a shipyard and a port where Spanish colonizers could stop and supply themselves before moving onward. It was originally founded in 1530 by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán. That said, it was first recognized as a deep sea port in 1768 by King Charles III of Spain.

Your Vacation Workout Through Time

When you head out to the ruins, you’ll likely start at the Contaduría, which was first built on the San Basilio hill in 1770. It wasn’t the first building there, as Franciscan friars under Firar Junípero Serra had been there a few years earlier when they headed off on their mission from the port to the Nuestra Señora de Loreto Mission for the purpose of colonizing the Californias.

The Contaduria was an extremely important structure as it was both a headquarters and a storage facility. Let your hike take you around the ruins of what was once a multi-story building that was large enough and visible enough to be used as an important landmark even from the water.

Keep your hike going down the hill and you’ll come across the Nuestra Señora del Rosario church ruins. That church was first built back in 1769. This will make you feel as though you’ve traveled back into an entirely different point in Mexican history, far before your trip – or your vacation workout – began.